Get Up Stand Up (The Video)
Directed by David C. Snyder
Produced by Carl Ryder & David C. Snyder
Additional Photography by Rynda Laurel

Lyrics:

(ChuckD first verse)
THIS SONG DON’T GIVE A DAMN
IF THE RHYMES DON’T FIT
IF THE DJ QUIT
THIS SONG
DON’T GIVE A DAMN
IF YOU CAN’T SING TO DANCE TO IT
CAN’T ROMANCE TO IT
THIS SONG AIN’T ARROGANT
IF YOU DON’T TRY IT
BUY IT
IF YOUR RADIO DENY IT
DON’T CARE BOUT WHAT WHO GOT
WHAT’S COOL ON TV
OR WHAT SPOTS HOT I FORGOT
I AIN’T MAD AT EVOLUTION
BUT I STAND FOR REVOLUTION
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
SOMEBODY STAND UP

GET UP, STAND UP,
GET UP, STAND UP

(Brother Ali verse)
THIS TRACK AINT ASKING YOU A DAMN THING
NOT THE BRAND NAME BOTTLE WITH YOUR CHAMPAGNE
NOT WHERE YOU LAND YOUR PRIVATE AIRPLANE
HOW MANY BLOOD DIAMONDS SHINING IN THAT CHAIN?
HOW MUCH COMPROMISE IS TIED TO THAT FAME?
HOW MANY MORE TIMES WE GOTTA HEAR THAT LAME
LINE IM INSPIRING THEM
TO DO WHAT? ROLL BETTER WEED AND GET HIGHER THAN THEM ?
FEED THE NEEDY GREEDY ASS FIRE IN THEM?
BE THE SAME DAMN DOG BUT TO FINER WOMEN?
THEY GONNA TELL ME THAT IM PREACHING TO THE CHOIR THAN IM
SURE THEY RIGHT BUT IM TRYING TO LIGHT A FIRE IN THEM
CAUSE I WAS RAISED BY THE ENEMY
AND EVER SINCE THEN THATS BEEN MY IDENTITY
SO IM TRYING TO GIVE BACK WHATS WAS GIVEN ME
TRUTH TOLD DELIVERY IS MY TENDENCY
YOUTH FOLD TO THE SPIRIT OF MY ENERGY
BOTTOM OF MY FEET IS SOMETHING THAT YOULL NEVER SEE
THATS CAUSE IM STANDING SINGING THE ANTHEM
FIST ON MY HAND, AND A LIST OF DEMANDS AND
WHEN THEY HEAR THIS MIGHT PISS IN THEIR PANTS AND
TRY TO GET THE CHILDREN TO NOT LISTEN TO THE MAN
BUT THE MIGHTY PE IS WHAT BIRTHED ALI
SO WHAT YOU GONNA THINK COME AFTER ME?
CHUCK D

GET UP, STAND UP

(ChuckD second verse)
OCCUPY IF YOU DENIED
PROTEST SONGS CAUSE I SEE WRONG
MOST OF MY HEROES STILL DONT APPEAR ON NO STAMP
SO I RANT EVEN WHEN THEY SAY I CAN’T
(PAUSE)
I RISE AGAINST
RAGE AGAINST
HOPE I DONT END UP BEING THE SAME THING IM FIGHTING AGAINST
HENCE
I WINCE NEVER ON THE FENCE
SINCE THEY THINK THE MASSES POWERLESS
I AIN’T ON NOBODY’S POWER LIST
I BALL MY FIST W MY AUDIENCE
I RAISE MY FIST W MY AUDIENCE LIKE THIS
LIKE THIS

GET UP, STAND UP,
GET UP, STAND UP

(ChuckD third verse)
GOT SO MUCH TO SHOUT ABOUT
WHAT THE 1% IS GETTIN OUT
RECESSION DEPRESSION DESPERATION DUE
NEVER HAVE SO MANY BEEN SCREWED BY SO FEW
CHEAPEST PRICE IS TO PAY ATTENTION
NO NEED TO DUMB DOWN TO WHAT I MENTION
NO NEED TO YOUNG DOWN HOW I MENTION
IN SPANISH PORTUGUESE ENGLISH FRENCH AND
NO SATISFACTION
LISTEN TO THE WORLD REACTION

Last night I took a 14 hour flight to Sydney Australia from LA embarking on PEs 80th tour in 25 years. I landed I got 65 texts with the news. Adam and theBoys put us on our first tour 25 years and 79 tours ago. They were essential to our beginning, middle and today. Adam especially was unbelievable in our support from then till now even allowing me to speech induct them into the Rock hall of fame. I consider my self a strong man and my father says be prepared to lose many on your post 50 path of life. Still Im a bit teary eyed leaving this plane R.I.P Adam Aka MCA’Chuck D

“My place in hip-hop is not to be a tycoon, making trillions with a yacht…My place is maybe bringing people together and me being able to identify and illuminate a cause, and we’ll make it comfortable for them to be themselves but say what they’ve really been wanting to say all along….with my protection.” – Chuck D

Legendary rap group and social political-icons, PUBLIC ENEMY, kick off their headline Australian shows next week, supported by the cream of the rising Australian hip hop crop, Seth Sentry.

Since the release of their epic debut album ‘Yo Bum Rush The Show’ in 1987, PUBLIC ENEMY, have been making the music that makes the world listen; propelled by all the passion, urgency and electrifying performances that have made them one of the most critically-lauded groups in contemporary music.

This year, the group will release two new studio albums: ‘Most Of My Heroes Still Don’t Appear On No Stamp’, produced by long-time collaborator Gary G-Wiz, will be released in June, while ‘The Evil Empire Of Everything’ will follow in September. PUBLIC ENEMY front-man, poet, author and the voice of the oppressed, Chuck D, describes the albums as “two concise statements that are connected in the same breath.” (Billboard.com)

A group whose musical style and incendiary delivery have earned them critical acclaim and millions of fans throughout their career, PUBLIC ENEMY continues to blaze musical and technological trails with new songs and new media, pulling rap music into the future, all while keeping its musical roots firmly intact. PUBLIC ENEMY transcends the confines of rap and pop music, remaining one of the African American community’s most important messengers, digital music’s greatest champions, and a rare rap group whose lyrics are dedicated to analyzing, uplifting and empowering all of humanity.

Public Enemy in fine form as usual on the title track for 1998 Spike Lee film “He Got Game “, they went one better than just sampling a hook for this one. Rather than jack the samples of the 1967 Buffalo Springfield classic protest song “For What Its Worth”, they actually brought in Stephen Arthur Stills the man who originally wrote and played guitar on the song to feature on their take of his classic some 30 years later.

The #1 Hip Hop group of all time featuring a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer & one greatest guitarists ever is a creative match up that put out one hell of a tune. A track that stood the test of time to become one of the most original sounding PE tracks to date. Also props to PE for pulling off a collaboration that I don’t think too many other rap groups and pull off to be honest.